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Astron. Astrophys. 337, 681-684 (1998)
Estimation of multiple time delays in complex gravitational lens systems
J. Pelt 1, 6,
J. Hjorth 2, 6,
S. Refsdal 3, 6,
R. Schild 4, 6 and
R. Stabell 5, 6
1 Tartu Observatory, EE-2444 Tõravere, Estonia
2 NORDITA, Blegdamsvej 17, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
3 Hamburger Sternwarte, Gojenbergsweg 112, D-21029
Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany
4 Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, MS-19 60
Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
5 Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, P.O. Box 1029,
Blindern, N-0315 Oslo, Norway
6 Centre for Advanced Study, Drammensveien 78, N-0271,
Oslo, Norway
Received 27 March 1998 / Accepted 26 June 1998
Abstract
We generalize the nonparametric dispersion minimization method of time delay estimation for the case when more than two quasar images are available. This allows us to analyse time delays in complex gravitational lens systems in a model independent manner. We apply the new method to the recent observations of the quadruply imaged quasar PG 1115+080 and show that our nonparametric estimates roughly coincide with the values obtained with optimal filtering and smoothing techniques. Because our method uses a minimal set of assumptions and is computationally simpler it may be a method of choice, especially for the early stages of an investigation when the available data for a new lens system are scarce.
Key words: methods:
statistical 
quasars: individual: PG
1115+080
gravitational lensing
Send offprint requests to: R. Stabell
Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Method
- 3. Refinements
- 4. Application to the gravitational lens system PG 1115+080
- 5. Discussion
- Acknowledgements
- References
© European Southern Observatory (ESO) 1998
Online publication: August 27, 1998
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